I’m really excited to share this tuna salad no mayo recipe with you all because it’s delicious and packed with even more protein than your average tuna salad. So whether you’re just looking for a healthy tuna salad recipe packed with flavor, or you want to avoid mayo found in a traditional tuna salad, you will love this twist on an old classic.
Regular tuna salad is mayo based, which helps give it a creamy consistency. I love these classic tuna salad and don’t at all want to dismiss mayo! But sometimes you are just craving something different, lighter and fresher. This recipe has some Mediterranean flavors going on, with the tanginess of the capers and fresh lemon juice. And it has over 30 grams of protein thanks to the addition of a hard boiled egg. You guys know how much I love getting in extra protein when I can, as seen in my protein oats and protein oatmeal. This recipe has lots of flavor, and feels light, fresh and unique.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This High Protein, No Mayo Tuna Salad
- Ingredients to Make This Tuna Salad Recipe Without Mayo
- How to Make Tuna Salad Without Mayo
- Variations of Tuna Salad Without Mayo
- How to Serve No Mayo Tuna Salad
- How to Store No Mayo Tuna Salad
- Tuna Salad No Mayo FAQs
- More high-protein dishes
- Tuna Salad Recipe Without Mayo
Why You’ll Love This High Protein, No Mayo Tuna Salad
- Makes for a quick and easy healthy lunch, packed with protein and healthy fats. It’s also great for meal prep!
- The addition of crunchy celery and soft hardboiled egg creates unique and unexpected flavors and textures.
- Affordable, costing about $3.50/serving depending on what brand of canned tuna you purchase.
Ingredients to Make This Tuna Salad Recipe Without Mayo
- 1 can of albacore tuna fish in water (I like the Wild Planet brand that is sold in bulk at Costco)
- 1 hardboiled egg, diced
- 1 stalk of celery, diced
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1-2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- salt and black pepper to taste
How to Make Tuna Salad Without Mayo
In a small bowl, add all the ingredients and mix well. Taste and add additional olive oil and lemon juice to your liking. That is it, it really couldn’t be easier and less complicated.
Variations of Tuna Salad Without Mayo
Some ways you can add even more flavor or swap in different tastes and serving suggestions below:
- For a creamier, tangy spin, swap part of the olive oil for Greek yogurt and a splash of Dijon.
- Stir in smashed avocado for richness, fiber, and healthy fat, resulting in a perfect mayo-free, creamy texture.
- To add some creamy protein, blend small-curd cottage cheese for a protein-packed creamy base that’s lighter than mayo.
- Hold the hardboiled egg and fold in kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and fresh parsley or basil for a flavorful Mediterranean twist.
- Keep that umami-pop going by adding diced cornichons, more capers, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a zippy punch.
- Serve in a whole grain wrap or in a large lettuce cup for a refreshing protein packed wrap.
- Pile it onto whole-grain toast, serve as open-face sandwiches, or form into tiny slider portions
How to Serve No Mayo Tuna Salad
I love making an easy lunch out of this tuna salad and eating it straight out of the bowl, over a bed of lettuce or in a lettuce wrap for a low carb option. Serve on a piece of whole grain toast or in a pita pocket if you are craving something a little heartier.
How to Store No Mayo Tuna Salad
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before serving leftovers, make sure to give the tuna salad a nice big stir to reincorporate ingredients and flavors.
Tuna Salad No Mayo FAQs
No problemo! The briny capers give the salad a pop of flavor, so kalamata olives or diced up artichoke hearts would be a great substitute.
If you have extra time, feel free to add diced red onion for some bite, and even a squeeze of Dijon mustard. Fresh herbs like fresh parsley or dill would also be nice additions. You don’t want to overthink this though, as the recipe us supposed to quick and easy to throw together.
We tend to think fresh is best, and that canned foods are somehow less healthy! But that could be further from the truth for canned tuna. Canned tuna is a healthful food rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamin A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus. Tuna also contains healthy omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA. Omega 3 fatty acids have been proven to help with heart and brain health and even depressive episodes in some patients. This tuna salad won’t solve all your health concerns, but it is definitely a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.
I hope you love this healthy Mediterranean tuna salad recipe as much as I do! It really makes the perfect lunch and is my new favorite way to enjoy tuna.
More high-protein dishes
Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or rating, letting me know how you enjoyed it! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, and never miss a post by signing up for my weekly newsletter!
Tuna Salad Recipe Without Mayo
Ingredients
- 1 can albacore tuna in water
- 1 hardboiled egg diced
- 1 celery stalk diced
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil add more to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice add more to taste
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl and mix well. Season to taste and add in additional olive oil and lemon juice to your liking.
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